Paint mixing machine drive



Dec. 15, 1959 s. STINER EI'AL 2,917,695

PAINT MIXING MACHINE DRIVE Original Filed April 16. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet1 I66 I64 I63 .1 22 2| 20 2o 34 0 H l62 7/ a z as 7 as t I |6l j i II ain 0 i l I32 I m I03 i lli STEWART STINER CHARLES E STEPMNSON ALLEYNE C.HOWELL JR.

IN VEN TORS:

BY ga t WMM ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1959 s. STINER ETAL 2,917,695

PAINT MIXING MACHINE DRIVE Original Filed April 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet2 90 9| I06 I04 34 I04 I06 90 I33 65 T WART STIN R 43 CHAfiLES ESTEPHENSON IO 39 ALLEYNE G.HOWE LJR.

INVENTO BY flaw/44m, 0M M W ATTORN EYS Dec. 15, 1959 s. STINER ETAL2,917,695

PAINT MIXING MACHINE DRIVE Original Filed April 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet3 FIG STEWART STINER CHAR F STEPHENSON ALLE C. HOWELL JR.

INVENTORS:

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 15, 1959 s. STINER ETAL PAINT MIXING MACHINE DRIVE Original FiledApril 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 TEWART STINER CHARLES F. STEPHENSONALLEYNE C. HOWELL JR.

INVENTORS:

0W M M ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 15, 1959 s. STINER EI'AL 2,917,695

PAINT MIXING MACHINE DRIVE Original Filed April 16, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet5 FIG.?

, STEWART STiNER HARLES F. STEPHENSON ALLEYNE C. HOWELL JR mmvroas:

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 15, 1959 s. STINER ET'AL PAINT MIXING MACHINE DRIVE 6 Sheets-Sheet6 Original Filed April 16, 1952 h l ll t 1 STEWART STINER CHARLESF.STEPHENSON ALLEYNE G.HOWELL JR.

UN -3m w L. N

Na um Mm mm Nm 3 Na 3 lNVENTORS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent G 2,917,695 PAINT MIXING MACIHNE nmvn StewartStiner, Riverdale, and Charles F. Stephenson, New York, N.Y., andAlleyne C. Howeli, 31"., San Francisco, Calif., assignors, by mesneassignments, to Color Carousel Corp., Staten Island, N.Y., a corporationof California Original application April 16, 1952, Serial No. 282,652,

now Patent No. 2,787,402, dated April 2, 1957. D- vided and thisapplication November 2, 1955, Serial No.547,886

. 7 Claims. (Cl. 318-467) The'present invention relates to combinedpositioning and driving mechanism for bringing a revoluble supportingmember to any desired preselected one of a certain number of angularpositions of rotation. During the angular positioning of the supportingmember, a continuous driving connection is maintained for the operationof mechanically powered devices carried by the supporting member.

This application is a division of our copending application, Ser. No.282,652, filed on April 16, 1952, for Paint Mixing Machines, now PatentNo. 2,787,402, issued on April 2, 1957.

The positioning and driving mechanism which forms the subject matter ofthe present invention is illustratively disclosed herein as applied to apaint mixing machine. It will be obvious, of course, that this mechanismis readily adaptable for a widevariety of uses in apparatus other thanpaint mixing machines.

The paint mixing machine includes a revoluble supporting structure whichcarries a plurality of storage tanks for holding differently coloredpigments suspended in suitable liquid vehicles. Each storage tank hasassociated therewith a positive displacement pump, such as a gear pump.The revoluble supporting structure includes a hollow shaft within whicha drive shaft is disposed. The drive shaft is mechanically connected todrive all of the gear pumps in all possible positions of the supportingstructure and is continuously maintained in driving connectiontherewith. The hollow shaft is driven by a motor which is independent ofthe motor which drives the, pumps. Position selecting mechanism isprovided for stopping the motor which is connected to the hollow shaftwhen a preselected reservoir has been brought to a fixed dispensingposition so that its associated gear pump and dispensing valve arelocated above a container which is to receive a measured quantity of thepigment bearing vehicle held in the storage tank. As previously noted,the particular paint mixing machine which is hereinafter described ingreater detail is merely an illustrative embodiment exemplifying asuitable environment wherein the positioning and driving mechanism ofthe present invention is particularly useful. For other applications,the gear pumps may be replaced by other power operated devicesperforming different functions.

The positioning mechanism includes a motor, a hollow shaft which isdriven by the motor and which carries a supporting structure, a seriesof switches arranged in a circle concentric with the hollow shaft oneswitch being provided for each position in which the supportingstructure is to be stopped, a presettable switch having one position foreach position of the supporting structure and connected to establish acontrol circuit for stopping the motor when a particular one of theswitches in the circle of switches is actuated by a member carried bythe supporting structure, a radially movable stopping 2,917,695 PatentedDec. 15, 1959 ice arm carried by the hollow shaft, a series of stopscarried by the hollow shaft, each stop corresponding to one of thepreselectable positions of the supporting structure, the stopping armbeing drawn into the path of travel of the stops for engagement with aparticular stop when the control circuit is completed by actuation ofthe preselected switch in the circle of switches, cushioning meansconnected to the stopping arm for retarding its travel through a limitedangular displacement, and a mot stopping switch actuated by the stoppingarm after it completed its cushioned travel through the limited angulardisplacement at which time the supporting structure will have come torest in the angular position se lected by the presettable switch.

Additionally, programming means are provided which include a pluralityof presettable switches and sequentially operated means for renderingeach of the presettable switches operative in succession so that thesupporting structure will assume a series of positions established bythe different settings of the several presettable switches.

in any of the positions which may be selected by the presettableswitches, a driving connection is continuously maintained for operationof the pumps, this connection including a shaft disposed within thehollow shaft and driven by a separate motor which is controlledindependently of the positioning motor.

In addition to the programming means, limiting means are provided forindividually controlling the extent of o eration of the particular poweroperated device which is then effective in the preselected position ofthe supporting means. Thus, a program of positions for the supportingmeans may be established together with a schedule determining the extentof operation of each power operated device which becomes elfective ineach of the several preselected positions of rotation of the supportingmeans.

In this manner a complete series of operations may be preset so thateach of the several power operated devices is brought into effectiveposition in accordance with a program established by the presettableswitches and a separately predetermined amount of operation of eachpower operated device will occur while it is in its operative position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following specification together with the accompanyingdrawing forming a part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly broken away, looking in an upwarddirection.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig' 4 is a bottom view.

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the action of aselective rotation stopping mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view broken away to illustratevarious elements of the complete device.

Fig. 8 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram.

Fig. 9 is a table illustrating contact operation sequence ofelectrically actuated counters shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a control panel arrangement for presetting the desiredselection of different liquids and the individual quantities of eachliquid.

Referring to Fig. l, a plurality of liquid storage tanks or reservoirs2%) are shown individually secured at their inner upper edges to anupper supporting ring 21 by screws 22 which engage threaded collars 23carried by the tanks 29. The tanks 20 are disposed in a generallycircular arrangement and have fiat converging sides. The

tanks are convexly rounded at their outer end surfaces to form a smoothcylindrical periphery when mounted together as shown in Fig. 1. Theirinner end surfaces are concavely rounded to conform to the curvature ofsupportmg ring 21, and to bear against an upper plate 24 of the samediameter as supporting ring 21.

Rigidly secured to upper plate 24, are a plurality of positivedisplacement pumps, shown by way of illustration as gear pumps 25, anindividual pump being provided for each storage tank. No specific typeof positive displacement pump is shown since any type of pump issuitable for use with the present invention provided that it may bedriven by a revolving shaft and that the volume of liquid pumpedcorresponds accurately to the number of revolutions of the drivingshaft. A gear pump has been selected by way of illustration, since itscharacteristics meet these requirements, but its internal details havenot been shown since they may be conventional in all respects.

Each gear pump 25 is supported from a supporting collar 26 secured tothe under side of upper plate 24, the supporting collar includingsuitable bearings for the pump drive shaft 27.

Disposed on the upper side of upper plate 24 and fixedly secured to eachpump drive shaft 27 is an individual pump drive gear 28, all of whichmesh with a common main pump drive gear 29.

Each of the gear pumps 25 is provided with an inlet connection 30 fromthe bottom portion of its associated storage tank 20 and an outletconnection 31 which extends to a three-way valve 32. From valve 32 afurther duct or connection 33 extends into the tank 20 to a point nearits upper end, where it terminates in an outlet 34.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the return duct 33 terminates in an outlet 34which is located above the highest liquid level in each tank In theembodiment illustrated, it is contemplated that the rate of flow of therecirculating liquid is sufliciently slow so that it will slowly oozeout of the cut-off end of duct 33 which forms the outlet 34, the outersurface of duct 33 acting as a surface for smoothly flowing thereturning liquid back into the liquid in the tank without entraining airor creating air bubbles or undesirable turbulence in the tank liquid.

Where flow velocity is too great for the outer surface of duct 33 to'actas a flowing surface, any desired known type of turbulence preventingdevice may be associated with the outlet 34. Outlet 34 instead ofterminating above the liquid level may comprise a submerged nozzle orsimilar device producing one or more jets which create agitatingcurrents within the liquid.

With the valve 32 in its normal position, liquid is drawn from thebottom of the tank 20 through the pipe 30 into the inlet side of gearpump 25. Gear pump 25 forces the liquid into the pump outlet connection31 and through valve 32 into pipe 33 and outlet 34 from which the liquiddrops back into the main supply contained in the storage tank 20. Solong as gear pumps 25 are in operation, the liquid stored in each tank20 is recirculated, thereby preventing the settling of any solids or theaccumulation thereof at the bottom of any of the tanks 20.

The upper plate 24 is secured to a supporting flange 35 by bolts 36 andthe upper plate 24 and flange 35 are carried by a hollow vertical driveshaft 37. Because hollow shaft 37 carries the entire weight of all ofthe storage tanks 20 together with their associated gear pumps 25 andvalves 32, suitable thrust bearings must be provided, together withbearings to prevent lateral movement of the hollow shaft 32. These arenot specifically shown, but may be any desired type and may be locatedin any desired positions in known manner.

Disposed within hollow shaft 37 is a pump drive shaft 38 which isfixedly connected to the main pump drive gear 29 at its upper end and atits lower end to a counting cam assembly designated generally as 39,which comprises a sheave 40 secured to the shaft 38 by a set screw 41.Sheave 40 is connected by a V-belt 42 to a further sheave 43 which isdriven by a pump drive motor 44 through a -speed reducing mechanism 45.Assuming hollow shaft 37 to be stationary, motor 44 will drive all ofthe pumps 25 through main pump gear 29 and pump drive shaft 38, sinceall of the individual pump gears 23 mesh with the main pump drive gear29.

The hollow shaft 37, at its lower end, carries a pcripherally groovedselector wheel 46 which is driven through a speed reducing pulley 47 bya motor 48, the driving connection to the motor 48 comprising a speedreducing mechanism 49 and two V-belts 50 and 51, the V-belt :50extending from motor speed reducer 49 to pulley 47 and belt 51 frompulley 47 to the periphery of the selector wheel 46.

Motor 48 thus drives hollow shaft 37, carrying with it all of the tanks20, valves 32 and pumps 25. With pump drive shaft 38 stationary, all ofthe individual pump drive gears 28 will pass around the stationary mainpump drive gear 29 in mesh therewith and will thus simultaneouslyoperate their respective pumps 25 at a reduced speed suitable forrecirculation of the liquids in the several storage tanks 20. By theaddition to the group of tanks 20 of suitable coloring, lettering, orthe addition of indicia, this slow speed rotation of the group of tanks20 may be utilized for a sales promotional display effect accompanyingthe slow rotary movement of the group of tanks.

Disposed on the under side of selector wheel 46 are a plurality of stopstuds 52. A floating stop arm 53, provided with a slot 54 through whichhollow shaft 37 passes freely, and is slidably retained positionedbetween an upper collar 55 and a lower collar 56, thus being freelyradially movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to selector wheel46 within the limits of travel imposed by the length of the slot 54. Onits upper surface, floating arm 53 carries a stop-dog 57 which isselectively engageable with any one of the stop studs 52 when the arm 53is in its radially outward position. In the inward position of arm 53the stop studs 52 pass freely by the stop-dog 57.

Arm 53 is urged radially inwardly toward shaft 37 by a tension spring58, one end of which is secured to a fixed bracket 59, the opposite endbeing secured to arm 53 at a hole 60 therein. A solenoid designatedgenerally as 61 and comprising an operating winding 62 and a plunger 63is shown provided with a link member 64 which extends to the floatingarm 53. Upon energization of operating winding 62, the plunger 63 isdrawn inwardly within the solenoid 61 and link 64 thereupon draws thefloating arm 63 outwardly into a position where the dog 57 is placed inthe path of travel of the studs 52. One of these studs will thereuponengage the dog 57 and will force arm 53 to rotate along with theselector wheel 46. This action is retarded and damped by suitablemechanism illustratively shown as an air check 65, the air check 65being arranged for quick return action in the usual manner.

Upon being drawn outwardly by solenoid 61, the floating arm 53 willtravel along with the particular stud 52 engaged by dog 57 until itreaches its limit of travel at which point two switches 66 and 67 areactuated, the purpose of this actuation being more fully set forthbelow.

Referring to the schematic electrical circuit diagram, Fig. 8, a threeposition main switch 71 is shown comprising two poles 72 and 73 whichare mechanically interlinked to operate together. The main switch isshown in its Off position, in which the device is entirely deenergized.When the main switch 71 is advanced in a clockwise direction to itsnext, or Display position, pole 72 applies one side of the commercialpower supply, designated AC. via a conductor 74, normally closed switch67, and another conductor 75 to the selector wheel driving motor 48, theother side of motor 48 being connected to the other side of thecommercial power supply,

represented by the conventional circuit symbol for ground.

This energizes motor 48 which drives the selector wheel 46 and therebyrotates hollow shaft 37 and the several storage tanks together with theassembly of gear pumps 25. Since the individual pump driving gears 28are being rotated with respect to the main pump driving gear 29, whichis stationary at this position of the main switch and with which theyare in mesh, all of the gear pumps are caused to be rotated about theiraxes at relatively low speed, thereby each circulating and recirculatingthe liquid in its associated storage tank 20. Apart from this action,the remainder of the device is not activated.

Upon again turning switch 71 further in a clockwise direction to itsnext, or Dispense position, AC is applied to a conductor 76 whichenergizes pump motor 44, thereby driving all of the pumps 25 whether ornot the selector wheel and assembly is rotating, preparatory to thedispensing of the desired formulation of the several liquids. Thedesired formulation of different liquids stored in the tanks 20, isthen, or previously preset upon three liquid or color selection dials77, 78 and 79, and the amount of each liquid to be dispensed is likewisepreset on three electrically actuated counters 80, 81 and 82 whichdetermine the respective amounts of each liquid as selected on the colorselection dials 77, 78 and 79.

If a particular total volume is desired, the setting of the severaldials will be so arranged that the total number of units preset on thecounters will correspond to this total volume, the total number ofcounts being duly apportioned amongst the several colors or liquids inaccordance with the desired formula which is to be dispensed.

The size of the container which is to be filled is then preset on athree pole three position switch 83 comprising the three poles 84, 85and 86. In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, thethree positions correspond to gallons, quarts and pints, respectively,as the switch '83 is rotated in a clockwise direction.

7 Astarting switch 87 of the locking push button type is shown providedwith a releasing magnet 88, and the locking push button of this switchis next depressed to commence the dispensing operation.

Fig. 10 shows a simplified control panel arrangement. Asstune forexample that it is desired to produce quart of paint of a particularshade, such as robins egg blue. This color is to be. produced by mixingof certain pigments of standard colors stored in tanks 20 with a quartof white paint in a standard container. Reference to a standard blue arerequired, 2 units of a standard green, and 1 unit of a standard yellow.

The operator then sets switch 83 on panel to quart position. He setsswitch 77 to the desired blue, setting the knob of its associatedcounter 80 to the desired quantity of 8 units. He next sets switch 78tothe desired green and knob of its associated counter 81 to 2 units.Switch 79 is set to the required yellow and the knob of its associatedcounter 82 to one unit. Dispensing action is then commenced by pressingpush button 87.

As explained in detail below, if switch 83 is set for gallons, insteadof quarts, there will be four times as much pump action per unit, thecounters, however, will still count to the same number of units, namely8, 2 and 1, but four times the volume of pigment will be dispensed inthe Gallons position of switch 83 as in the -Quarts position.

' After the controls have been set and starting push button 87 actuated,the machine will automatically dispense the three desired colors inrespective amounts desired, and will then automatically stop.

In the foregoing example, pigments to be added to white paint wereconsidered. A mixture of prepared paints could also be dispensed. Thedevice is inherently suitable for dispensing liquids of any type, suchas those used in the preparation of cocktails or a combination of syrupsfor carbonated beverages, or medical preparations, industrial compoundsand the like.

Pressing of the starting button of switch 87 closes its contactsapplying AC from conductor 76 via a conductor 89 to one contact of agroup of stationary color or liquid selecting control switches eachdesignated 90. Although twelve of these control switches 90 are shown inmost of the several figures of the drawing, Fig. 8 shows only three, theother nine being omitted for purposes of simplification.

On its upper side, the selector wheel 46 carries a switch actuating cam91 (Fig. 7) which successively actuates each of the twelve colorselecting control switches 90, causing each switch, as it is actuated,to close its contacts for the duration of its engagement by the switchactuating cam 92. When the particular stationary color selecting switch90 is actuated, which corresponds to the color selected by the firstcolor selection switch 77, a circuit is completed through the selectedone of its switch-points 92 via one of the conductors of a twelveconductor cable 93 to its switch arm. Each of the twelve conductors ofcable 93 is connected individually from each or" the correspondingswitchpoints 92 of color selecting switches 77, i8 and 79 to thecorresponding stationary switches 90 to be actuated by the colorselecting cam 91 for the desired color selected by any of the colorselecting switches 77 '78 and 79.

The circuit completed to the selected switchpoint 92 of the first colorselecting switch '77 continues via a conductor 94, through the normallyclosed contacts 95-96 of a double pole double throw relay 97, via afurther conductor 98, the normally closed contacts 99400 of anotherdouble pole double throw relay 101 and a conductor 102 to the operatingwinding 62 of the solenoid 61, causing it to draw in its plunger 63.

Solenoid plunger 63, acting through link 64 draws floating arm 53radially outwardly causing its dog 57 to engage the stop stud 52corresponding to the color selected on the first color selection switch77. As described above, the selector wheel 46 and the storage tanks 20together with their associated pumps 25 and valves 32 will come slowlyto rest under the retarding action of the air check 65 with theparticular container 20 and its associated valve 32 corresponding to theselected color coming to rest in the dispensing position, directly overthe container 103 (Fig. 1) into which liquid is to be dispensed.

As the rotation of the tanks 20 ceases, floating arm 53 actuates switch66 and 67. Switch 67, whose contacts are normally closed, opens thecircuit of motor 48 cutting it ofi. Backward travel is prevented byfriction pawls 104 (Fig. 2) which engage a disc 10S carried by selectorwheel 46, the pawls 104 being continuously urged into frictionalengagement with the disc 185 by individual helical torsion springs 106.The two switches 66 and 67 therefore remain actuated.

The normally open switch 66 in actuated position establishes a circuitfrom the energized conductor 102, via a conductor 107 to a group of fourcam actuated switches, 108, 109, 110 and 111. This group of fourswitches is actuated by the counting cam assembly 39. The cam assembly39 comprises an upper cam 112 having a single notch and a lower cam 113having four equally spaced notches, the pump drive sheave 40 beinginterposed between the upper and lower cams 112 and 113 respectively.The cams 112 and 113 are held together with the sheave 40 to form theassembly 39.

In the course of any single revolution of pump drive I 111, that each ofthe four notches of lower cam 113 will actuate the switches 110 and 111at different time intervals, preferably equally spaced.

If desired, the time interval between the actuation of switches 111.8and 109 may be made adjustable. This may be accomplished by raising cam103 to a higher level and mounting an angularly adjustable actuating arm(not shown) on the upper surface of cam 112 which independently actuatesonly switch 108. This may also be accomplished by so mounting switch 108that its position. is circumferentially adjustable with respect to cam112.

Assuming the total volume, or container capacity switch 83 to be in theGallons or extreme counterclockwise position, the first passage of thesingle notch of upper earn 112 will first close the contacts of switch108. A circuit is then established via a conductor 115, normally closedcontacts 116117 of relay 101, conductor 118, normally closed contacts119-120 of relay 97, and conductor 121 to the S or Start terminal 122 ofpresettable counter 80. The internal connections of the three counters80, 81 and 82 are shown only in the case of counter 82, the threecounters being of identical construction.

Each counter comprises a clutch magnet 123 which becomes energized bythe application of AC to the S terminal of the counter. Energization ofthe clutch magnet 123 conditions the counter to begin a count, anddeenergization releases the clutch, resetting the counter to its initialor zero condition.

Energization of the clutch magnet 123 causes closure of a pair oflocking contacts 124 which maintain the clutch magnet 123 in anenergized condition from AC at conductor 89, after the originalenergizing circuit has been broken. Unless clutch magnet 123 isenergized, the application of counting impulses to the counter will beof no significance since the counting mechanism will not operate.

With clutch magnet 123 energized, the counter 81) is prepared to startcounting to its preset count, appropriately adjustable mechanism beingprovided for presetting the total number of impulses to be counted. Thearrangement is generally similar to that shown in US. Patent No.2,175,865, issued October 10, 1939, to C. L. Anderson, except that thecounter used in the present invention operates with a ratchet typestepping magnet instead of a timing motor as shown in the Andersonpatent.

With clutch magnet 123 energized, the counter is prepared to operate andto close contacts 125 between terminals L2 and 2. Terminal L2 wasenergized by connection to AC via conductor 89 when the start button 87was pressed.

Switch 109 is then closed applying the initial impulse or zero count,which causes contacts 125 to close, establishing an energizing circuitvia a conductor 126 to a valve actuating solenoid 127 having anoperating winding 128 and a plunger 129. The plunger 129 is connected toan outwardly projecting actuating member 130 which is forced outwardlyfrom the solenoid 127 as its magnetic plunger 129 is drawn inwardly uponenergization of its operating winding 128.

The valve actuating solenoid 127 is fixedly secured to the upper end ofa supporting column comprising a hollow cylindrical member 131 and fourstay bolts 132 which clamp the supporting column against a base plate133, the cylindrical member 131 being held between upper and lowercolumn end plates 134, the valve actuating solenoid 127 being mounted onthe upper column end plate 13 in operative relationship to any valve 32in dispensing position. The upper column end plate 134 may convenientlybe provided with a hearing 135 for the journaling of the hollow shaft37.

At the time when the selector wheel 46 came to rest, the valve 32 of theselected tank was accurately positioned in close proximity and injuxtaposition to the actuating member 130 of the valve solenoid 127.Energization of the valve actuating solenoid 127, therefore, causes theactuating member 130 to press upon the valve operating plunger 136,thereby terminating recirculation of liquid and permitting the liquid toflow out through nozzle 146. When solenoid 127 is deenergized, the valveposition changes thereby terminating discharge through nozzle 146 andreinstituting recirculation.

While the solenoid 127 is energized and after the predetermined presetcount of counter has been reached as a result of the required number ofimpulses being applied to its counting magnet 152 via conductor 153 withits clutch magnet 123 in a continuously energized condition, the lastimpulse opens its contacts 125 which were closed during the count, andsimultaneously causes closure of its contacts 154 thereby establishing acircuit between its terminals L2 and 1. The contacts 125 remain open,deenergizing the valve solenoid 32 and terminating the dispensingaction. When contacts 154 close, this last contact condition will remainestablished until clutch magnet 123 is deenergized, this deenergizationthereupon preparing the counter for a new cycle.

Closure of contacts 154 of counter 80 energizes relay 97. This transfersconductor 98, which controls selector wheel solenoid 61, from (normallyclosed) contact to (normally open) contact 155 of relay 97 and hence thesolenoid 61 from control by the first color selector switch 77 tocontrol by the second color selector switch 78.

The counter clutch magnet control lead 118 will be transferred from(normally closed) contact to (normally open) contact 156 of relay 97,thus preparing to count up to the preset count established on the recordcounter 81 for the second liquid, or color selection, by actuating andlocking in its clutch magnet 123.

If a different color has been selected on the second switch 78, solenoid61 will be deenergized, tension spring 58 will draw floating arm 53radially inwardly disengaging dog 57 from stop stud 52, floating arm 53will then restore quickly to its normal position since air check 65provides for quick return action, and switch contacts 66 will open.Simultaneously, contacts 67 will close starting motor 48 which drivesselector wheel 46 and the selector wheel 46 will again start in motion.

It will come to rest at the selected color preset on the second colorselector switch 78 as described above for the first color selectorswitch 77 which is now out of circult.

The next, or initial impulse will close the contacts 154 of the secondcounter the first counter being out of circuit, and these will energizethe valve solenoid 127 via conductor 126 which is connected to theterminal 157, this terminal also being designated 2.

At the completion of the preset count on the second impulse counter 81,its contacts 154 will close and energize relay 101 via conductor 158.This transfers the selector wheel control conductor 102 from (normallyclosed) contact 99 of relay 101 to (its normally open) contact 159, thusstarting the color selecting action described above, but under controlof the third selector switch.

The third impulse counter 82 will now determine the number of impulses,and upon closure of its contacts 154 at the completion of the count,reset magnet 88 of the starting push button 87 is energized viaconductor 160, unlocking push button 87 and deenergizing all of thepreviously described circuits except the motors 44 and 48 which remainenergized ready for the next dispensing action. If no further dispensingis required, the main switch 71 may then be turned back to itsintermediate position or Display position where only motor 48 is inoperation rotating the group of liquid reservoirs for display purposes.

It should be noted that all of the clutch magnets 123 were locked inthrough their own contacts 124 which are connected to AC via conductor89. Deenergization of conductor 89 therefore simultaneously 'reses allthree counters, so that they are prepared to count again in sequence asdescribed above. Although during each counting interval, the countingmagnets 152 of all three counters are simultaneously energized by acommon conductor 153, no counting action will take place in any counteruntil its clutch magnet 123 has first been locked in. As has beendescribed this is controlled sequentially by means of relays 97 and 107.

The above operation has been described with the container size or totalvolume switch 84 in its first, or Gallons position. When turnedclockwise to its next, or Quarts position, the switch contacts 111 whichare actuated by lower cam 113 are substituted for contacts 109 which areactuated by the upper cam 112, to control the counting magnets 152 ofthe counters S0, 81 and 82.

It should be noted that the lower cam 113 is provided with four notches,Whereas the upper cam 112 has but a single notch. The counting magnetswill therefore be actuated four times for each revolution of the pumpdrive shaft 38 instead of once as in the case of the gallons camactuated switch 109. The volume of liquid displaced by any of the pumpswill therefore be one quarter as much fo the Quarts position of theswitch 83, as for the Gallons position.

When the container capacity switch 83 is operated to its next, or Pintsposition, the counter magnets 152 are energized alternately by switchcontacts 110 and 111, each contact being actuated four times producingeight impulses during each revolution of pump shaft 38 by the lower cam113, thus reducing the total pump displacement required to reach anypreset count to oneeighth of the displacement required for gallonsswitch 109.

It should also be noted that the dispensing of liquid will not commence,except at a predetermined position of the counting cam assembly 39 withrespect to the counting switches 109, 110 and 111. The position of thesingle notch in upper cam 112 is the same as that of one of the fournotches in the lower cam 113. This assures that the initial contact inthe clutch magnet will not occur until immediately prior to the initialimpulse to any counter, irrespective of the position of the containercapacity switch 83. This is because no counter can be conditioned toaccept the initial impulse until the clutch control switch 108 has firstlocked in the clutch magnet of the particular counter being used. Thisis immediately followed by the zero impulse from either gallons countingswitch 109 or quarts counting switch 111, pints counting switch 110being open at this time.

Unless this precaution is taken the valve 32 which controls thedispensing action would not necessarily be actuated at the same pointwith respect to the position of counting cam assembly 39, and this wouldresult in a random effect with respect to the beginning of thedispensing action relative to the counting action. This random effectwould impair the desired accuracy of volumetric measurement.

We have shown what we believe to be the best embodiments of ourinvention. We do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A position selecting mechanism of the class described, comprising incombination, a revoluble supporting member which is to be positioned inany selected one of a pre .letermined number of angularly spacedpositions of rotation, a motor for driving said supporting member, afirst control circuit for controlling the operation of said motor, aseries of first stop members each corresponding to one of saidpositions, said stop members being carried by said supporting member andarranged in a circle concentric with the rotational axis of said 10supporting member, a second. stop member which-.is dis placeable intothe path of travel of said first stopmembers for engagement therewith, aseries of stationary controlswitches.arranged in a circle concentricwithsaid rotational axis, an actuating membercarried by said supportingmeans for successively actuating each of said control switches duringthe course of a completerevolu- .tion of said supporting means, saidcontrolswitches being equal in number to said first stopvrnembers-andeach corresponding to one of said positions of said supporting member, asecond control circuit, presettable selecting switch means for selectingone of said positions, said presettable switch means being connected toall of said control switches for including a preselected one of saidcontrol switches corresponding to said position in said second controlcircuit, electromagnetic means connected for response to said secondcontrol circuit, said electromagnetic means being energized when thepreselected one of said control switches is actuated by said actuatingmember, said electromagnetic means being mechanically connected to saidsecond stop member to cause movement thereof to engage a predeterminedone of said first stop members which corresponds to the position of saidrevoluble member selected by said presettable switch means, and switchmeans operated by movement of said second stop member after engagementwith said first stop member, said last-named switch means being includedin said first control circuit for stopping operation of said motor whensaid supporting means has reached the position of rotation selected bysaid presettable switch means.

2. A position selecting mechanism according to claim 1, furthercomprising cushioning means connected to said second stop member fordecelerating said supporting means during engagement between said firstand second stop members.

3. A position selecting mechanism according to claim 2 wherein saidcushioning means is a fluid controlled check cylinder.

4. A position selecting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein saidsecond stop member is an arm which is radially movable with respect tosaid rotational axis, said cushioning means being connected to impedeangular displacement of said arm.

5. A position selecting mechanism for positioning a revoluble member ina fixed predetermined angular position, comprising: controllable meansfor driving said member; a first stop member carried by said revolublemember; a second stop member having a limited range of movement andmovable to engage the first stop member and move therewith; and controlmeans responsive to said last named movement disposed to stop operationof said driving means; said second stop member comprising an armslidable outwardly with respect to said revoluble member, a portion ofsaid arm being selectively engageable with said first stop member.

6. A position selecting mechanism according to claim 5, furthercomprising check means connected to said arm for retarding andcushioning its movement during engagement thereof with said first stopmember.

7. A position selecting mechanism for positioning a revoluble member inany one of a plurality of fixed predetermined angular positions,comprising: controllable driving means for revolving said member;position selecting means operable to select a particular one of saidpositions; a plurality of first stop members, there being one of suchmembers for each of said positions; a second stop member having alimited range of movement and movable to engage any of said first stopmembers; a first control means responsive to said position selectingmeans and disposed to cause relative movement between the first stopmember corresponding to the particular position selected by the positionselecting means and the second stop member, thereby producing engagementtherebetween; and a second control means responsive to said 2,917,695 1112 engagement and disposed to stop operation of said driv- ReferencesCited in the file of this patent ing means, said first stop membersbeing carried by and movable with the revoluble member, and said secondstop UNITED STATES PATENTS member being relatively stationary andmovable therewith 2,505,262 Torcheux Apr. 25, 1950 only after engagementwith any of the first stop mem- 5 2,662,998 Witters Dec. 15, 1953 bers;said second stop member being an arm having 2,669,615 Cox Feb. 16, 1954check means connected thereto for retarding and cush- 2,740,081 McKay etal. Mar. 27, 1956 ioning its movement during engagement thereof with anyof said first stop means.

